Adjustable rectal applicator with fluid distributing and draining nozzle

ABSTRACT

A rectal applicator having an adjustable body portion and a unique nozzle head is disclosed. The nozzle is formed in a special bulbous shape to facilitate auxiliary sealing of the anal canal, and has openings to promote adequate distribution of a diagnostic contrast fluid and the subsequent draining of such fluid. The body portion of the applicator accommodates a wider sleeve which can act as a secondary sealing means with respect to the anal canal and also serves to accommodate the conduit through which the diagnostic fluid is transported to the nozzle.

ite

Vass

[76] Inventor: Alexander A. Vass, 309 E. 87th St.,

New York, NY. 10028 [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 324,797

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/245, 128/239 [51] Int. Cl A61m 3/00 [58] Field of Search 128/245, 240, 239, 248, 128/234, 241

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,010 8/1901 Wilhoft 128/239 937,292 10/1909 Eichholtz. 128/245 1,602,215 10/1926 Smith 128/240 2,470,293 5/1949 DAngelo 128/239 3,469,575 9/1969 Vass et a1. 128/245 States Patent ADJUSTABLE RECTAL APPLICATOR WITH FLUID DISTRIBUTING AND DRAKNING NOZZLE 1 Oct. 22, 1974 3,575,160 4/1971 Vass et al. 128/245 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gottlieb, Rackman, Reisman & Kirsch 5 7] ABSTRACT A rectal applicator having an adjustable body portion and a unique nozzle head is disclosed. The nozzle is formed in a special bulbous shape to facilitate auxiliary sealing of the anal canal, and has openings to promote adequate distribution of a diagnostic contrast fluid and the subsequent draining of such fluid. The body portion of the applicator accommodates a wider sleeve which can act as a secondary sealing means with respect to the anal canal and also serves to accommodate the conduit through which the diagnostic fluid is transported to the nozzle.

15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE RECTAL APPLICATOR WITH FLUID DISTRIBUTING AND DRAINING NOZZLE The present invention relates to rectal applicators for administering fluids into the intestinal tract per rectum and is an extension of the invention described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 309,668, filed Nov. 27, 1972.

In my said co-pending application, I have described and claimed a rectal applicator in which a tube is connected through a sleeve one end of which is adapted to be inserted into an anal canal. The sleeve is provided, intermediate its end, with means for exteriorly sealing the anal opening and the sleeve is of a diameter to fit relatively snugly within the anal canal to serve as additional anal closure. In one form of the invention, there is provided an enlarged nozzle head which is formed with a stem that fits into the end of the tube; the head being free to be moved'toward and away from the inner end of the sleeve for adjustment within the rectum independently of the sleeve, and serving in its first position as a further inner closure for the anal canal.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an applicator in which the head is secured both to the end of the fluid conduit tube as well as to the end of the sleeve, to be thus rendered immobilized against movement independently of the sleeve.

The present invention has for its object to provide an applicator head which will afford improved distribution of the administered fluid within the rectum and will distribute such fluid around the head, as well as above it.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an applicator of the character described having a head in which a turbulence is caused in the stream of fluid passing therethrough for more effective fluid discharge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an instrument of the character described with a nozzle head that is so formed that it will inhibit the clogging of the outlet openings thereof by solid or semisolid materials generally found in the rectum that may lodge within and clog such outlet openings of conventional instruments, and will be particularly effective in preventing the clogging of such outlet openings in the course of the process during which it may be desired to have the fluids drained from the rectum through the inlet opening of the head.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the applicator of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview through one embodiment of an applicator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top end view of the same; FIG. 3 is a blown view, in elevation, of the applicator shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational and partly sectional view of another embodiment of a head for use with the applicator of the present invention.

Generally stated, the applicator of the invention, which is preferably molded of a suitable synthetic plastic material, consists of an open-ended sleeve that may fit snugly within an anal canal and is provided intermediate its frontal and distal ends with means for sealing the anal opening from the exterior and is also engageable by the body for retaining in position with its frontal end within the anal canal. A tube connected to a source of fluid is inserted into the sleeve and has connected to its inner, free end, a nozzle head having a generally bulbous exterior shape having a thicker lower portion and a relatively thinner, dome-shaped upper portion; the lower portion having an inner diameter greater than that of the upper portion. In the sides of the latter portion, there is provided a plurality of apertures, such as four spaced outlet openings, whereby the fluid discharged into the head cavity is deflected by the edge of the upper cavity portion and by the top of the nozzle head, to be discharged through the openings in turbulent streams. The nozzle head is provided with a tubular stem extending into the sleeve upon which the end of the fluid conduit is fitted.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 3 thereof, the same show an applicator comprising a cylindrical sleeve, generally designated as 10, which is provided at its frontal end with an inwardly offset flange, 12, to form a restricted opening, 14, at that end, providing an interior shoulder, 16.

Sleeve, 10, is provided intermediate its ends with a preferably integral cylindrical enlargement, 18, whose frontal surface is concave, as at 20, to provide a circular ridge, 22, surrounding and spaced from the wall of sleeve, 10, and adapted, when the frontal end of such sleeve is inserted into the rectum through the anal opening, to engage against and indent the perianal surface to form a sealing contact therewith. The distal end of the enlargement 18, is provided with an outwardly extending upwardly flared flange, 24, forming a second peripheral ridge, 26, adapted to encompass and contact a wider area of the perianal surface and form a secondary exterior seal therewith, and also adapted to be engaged by the sides of the anal cleft, which may bulge around it, for the self-retention of the instrument in place within the rectum. If desired, a stepped, pyramid shaped ring, 28, of preferably soft, compressible material, may be placed around the enlargement, 18, between ridge, 22, and ridge, 26.

The nozzle head of the applicator, generally designated as, 30, may, for convenience and economy of molding, be formed in two sections; namely, a lower or distal section, 32, and an upper or frontal section, 34. Distal head section, 32, may be cup shaped and have a generally spheroid outer shape whose maximum outer diameter is greater than the diameter of sleeve 10, and whose inner cavity, at least at its open end, is cylindrical, as at 36. Head section, 32, is formed with an inlet opening, 38, in its bottom. Head section 34, is approximately dome-shaped, with a maximum outer diameter at its distal end preferably less than the outer diameter of section 32 at its open end. The cavity, 40, of head section, 34, is cylindrical and is defined at its open end by a sleeve, 42, that sets into the cylindrical cavity portion, 36, of head section, 32, wherein it may be press fitted or otherwise held in assembly. A plurality, such as four, spaced outlet openings, 44, are provided in the side of head section, 34, which openings may, preferably, taper distally.

It will be seen that fluid entering nozzle head, 30, through inlet opening, 38, will first flow into the relatively wider lower cavity portion, strike against the edge of sleeve, 42, to create a turbulence in the movement of the fluid which will then enter into the narrower cavity, 40, strike the roof of head section, 34, to create further turbulence and flow out through openings 44. As the latter are of a combined area greater than the diameter of cavity, 40, which, in turn is of lesser diameter than the inner portion of the head section cavity, a Venturi effect may be attained in the fluid flow, sufficient to displace any solid material that may enter openings, 44. It will also be seen that when used to drain the rectum, the arrangement of the openings, 44, in the upper sides of head, 30, will deflect solids and tend to keep them from blocking such openings.

Lower head section, 32, is formed with a depending cylindrical flange, 46, whose inner diameter is preferably equal to the diameter of the opening, 14, in the frontal end of sleeve such cylindrical flange serving to receive one end of a tubular coupling adapted to connect the nozzle head, 30, to a fluid conduit tube, 48, inserted into sleeve, 10. The coupling member, generally designated as 50, includes a cylindrical end portion, 52 of a height substantially equal to the combined height of the thickness of flange, l4, and of flange, 46, and of an outer circumference to be frictionally engaged and held within flange 46. Distally of its cylindrical end portion, 52, coupling, 50, thickens to provide a shoulder, 54, adapted to engage against shoulder, 16, of sleeve 10, to prevent movement of the coupling in a frontal direction after its cylindrical end portion, 52, is projected through sleeve outlet opening, 14, and the nozzle head, 30 is thereby held, in fixed position on sleeve 10, after flange, 46, is engaged on coupling end 52. Distally of shoulder, 54, coupling, 50, is provided with a distally tapered stern extension, 56, which is adapted to be tightly engaged within the end of fluid conduit tube, 48, which is inserted into sleeve, 10. For improved engagement between stem, 56, and tube, 48, the former may be split, as at 58, to render it longitudinally resilient.

In use, the coupling, 50, may be inserted, with its frontal end, 52, foremost, into sleeve, 10, through its distal end, and advanced therein until shoulder 54, abuts shoulder, 16, and frontal coupling end, 52, projects from the frontal restricted sleeve opening, 14. The head, 30, is then fitted by its flange, 46, over the projecting coupling end, 52. The edge of flange, 46, will then rest on top of sleeve flange, 12, to thereby immobilize the nozzle head, 30, on the sleeve, 10. Fluid conduit, 48, may then be introduced and moved into the sleeve, 10, through its distal opening, and advanced therein until it is firmly engaged on the tapered stem extension 56 of coupling 50. To facilitate assembly it may be desirable initially to connect conduit, 48, with coupling, 50, before insertion into sleeve, 10, to thereby provide for resistance against outward movement of coupling, 50, under the pressure of fitting the head, 30, on its projecting frontal end portion, 52.

In FIG. 4, there is illustrated a variant form of means for coupling the nozzle head, 30, to the fluid conduit, 48. In this embodiment, head section 30, is substantially identical with that of FIGS. 1 3, but the coupling means is preferably formed integrally with head sec tion, 30, and comprises a tubular extension of such nozzle head, generally designated as 60, which is connected directly to the bottom of head section, 32, around its opening, 34, and whose bore, 62, connects with such opening. Extension, 60, includes a frontal cylindrical portion, 64, which is adapted to fit snugly and preferably frictionally within sleeve opening, 14, and a tapering distally extending stem portion, 66, adapted to fit in the fluid conduit, 48.

It may here be stated that the nozzle head of FIG. 4 may be utilized with an applicator having a sleeve with a frontal outlet end into which the stem portion, 64, may be freely and movably fitted, so that head, 30, may be adjustably disposed within the rectum in the manner described in my said co-pending application.

This completes the description of the rectal applicator of the present invention and of the nozzle head therefor. It will be readily apparent that such applicator and nozzle head provide for improved distribution of fluid within the rectum; avoiding the clogging of its outlet openings by providing a plurality of such outlet openings and positioning them on the side rather than the end of the head. It will likewise be apparent that such arrangement of openings in the nozzle head will also avoid the clogging of the openings in the nozzle head when it is used for the draining of fluid from the rectum.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the applicator of the present invention by anyone skilled in the art in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth.

I claim:

1. A nozzle head for an applicator, of the character described, comprising a hollow body having a substantially dome-shaped proximal portion and a substantially spheroidal distal portion, wherein the proximal portion defines a cavity of lesser diameter than that of said distal portion, said body having an inlet opening formed in said distal portion and a plurality of spaced outlet openings formed in said proximal portion, and a tubular stem portion connected to said distal portion, surrounding said inlet opening and adapted to be separably connected to a fluid conduit.

2. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein said tubular stem portion is formed integrally with said nozzle head.

3. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein said stem portion tapers distally.

4. The nozzle head of claim 2, wherein said tapering stem portion is longitudinally split.

5. The nozzle head of claim 1 wherein said spaced outlet openings have a substantially trapezoidal shape, with a first parallel edge thereof being located towards the top of said body and a second shorter parallel edge being located distally thereof, and wherein the nonparallel sides of said openings form a distally tapering opening between said first and second parallel edges.

6. An applicator for administering fluid per rectum comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical tubular sleeve adapted to be fitted into an anal canal and to have a fluid conduit passed thereinto, and a nozzle head, said nozzle head comprising a hollow body having a substantially dome-shaped proximal portion and a substantially spheriodal distal portion, wherein the proximal portion defines a cavity of lesser diameter than that of said distal portion, said body having an inlet opening formed in said distal portion, and a plurality of spaced outlet openings formed in said proximal portion, said body adapted to rest on the frontal edge of said sleeve and having a tubular stem connected to said distal portion surrounding and communicating with said inlet opening, said stem extending into said sleeve for connection with a fluid conduit passed thereinto.

7. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said tubular stem is integral with said body.

8. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said proximal portion is formed with an outer diameter at its base less than the diameter of the adjacent portion of said distal portion and wherein the cavity of said proximal portion is substantially cylindrical and of a diameter less than the diameter of the frontal portion of the cavity of said distal head portion.

9. The applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end portion of said stem is longitudinally split.

10. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said sleeve is formed with an inwardly offset flange at its frontal end to thereby narrow the frontal opening of said sleeve, and said stem comprises a cylindrical frontal end adapted to frictionallyengage within said sleeve opening, and a tapering distal extension of said cylindrical end adapted to extend into said sleeve and be engaged within the open end portion of a fluid conduit passed into said sleeve.

Ill. The applicator of claim 10, wherein said tapering distal extension of said stem is longitudinally split.

12. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said sleeve is formed with an inwardly offset flange at its frontal end to thereby restrict the outlet opening thereof and form a shoulder surrounding said opening on its interior, and wherein said nozzle head is formed with a distally extending tubular flange adapted to rest by its edge on the offset flange of said sleeve, said nozzle head flange having an inner diameter not less than the diameter of said restricted opening, and wherein said tubular stem comprises a coupling separably connected to said nozzle head, said coupling including a cylindrical end portion adapted to extend through said sleeve opening and to frictionally engage within said distally extending flange, a thickened portion distally of said frontal portion and adapted to engage against said shoulder within said sleeve said last named portion tapering distally and adapted to engage within the open end portion of a fluid conduit passed into said sleeve.

13. The applicator of claim 6, wherein means are provided on said sleeve, intermediate its ends for engagement against the perianal surface of a body into which it is inserted to form a seal with said surface around said anal opening.

14. The applicator of claim 11, wherein said means comprises a cylindrical thickened portion around said sleeve, said thickened portion having a concave frontal portion forming a body engaging ridge at its edge and having an outwardly extending and upwardly flared flange at its distal end forming a second body surface engaging ridge at its edge.

15. The applicator of claim 13, wherein a frontally tapering collar surrounds said thickened portion intermediate its frontal edge and said flange, said collar having spaced circumferential serrations formed on its tapered surface. 

1. A nozzle head for an applicator, of the character described, comprising a hollow body having a substantially dome-shaped proximal portion and a substantially spheroidal distal portion, wherein the proximal portion defines a cavity of lesser diameter than that of said distal portion, said body having an inlet opening formed in said distal portion and a plurality of spaced outlet openings formed in said proximal portion, and a tubular stem portion connected to said distal portion, surrounding said inlet opening and adapted to be separably connected to a fluid conduit.
 2. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein said tubular stem portion is formed integrally with said nozzle head.
 3. The nozzle head of claim 1, wherein said stem portion tapers distally.
 4. The nozzle head of claim 2, wherein said tapering stem portion is longitudinally split.
 5. The nozzle head of claim 1 wherein said spaced outlet openings have a substantially trapezoidal shape, with a first parallel edge thereof being located towards the top of said body and a second shorter parallel edge being located distally thereof, and wherein the non-parallel sides of said openings form a distally tapering opening between said first and second parallel edges.
 6. An applicator for administering fluid per rectum comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical tubular sleeve adapted to be fitted into an anal canal and to have a fluid conduit passed thereinto, and a nozzle head, said nozzle head comprising a hollow body having a substantially dome-shaped proximal portion and a substantially spheriodal distal portion, wherein the proximal portion defines a cavity of lesser diameter than that of said distal portion, said body having an inlet opening formed in said distal portion, and a plurality of spaced outlet openings formed in said proximal portion, said body adapted to rest on the frontal edge of said sleeve and having a tubular stem connected to said distal portion surrounding and communicating with said inlet opening, said stem extending into said sleeve for connection with a fluid conduit passed thereinto.
 7. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said tubular stem is integral with said body.
 8. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said proximal portion is formed with an outer diameter at its base less than the diameter of the adjacent portion of said distal portion and wherein the cavity of said proximal portion is substantially cylindrical and of a diameter less than the diameter of the frontal portion of the cavity of said distal head portion.
 9. The applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end portion of said stem is longitudinally split.
 10. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said sleeve is formed with an inwardly offset flange at its frontal end to thereby narrow the frontal oPening of said sleeve, and said stem comprises a cylindrical frontal end adapted to frictionally engage within said sleeve opening, and a tapering distal extension of said cylindrical end adapted to extend into said sleeve and be engaged within the open end portion of a fluid conduit passed into said sleeve.
 11. The applicator of claim 10, wherein said tapering distal extension of said stem is longitudinally split.
 12. The applicator of claim 6, wherein said sleeve is formed with an inwardly offset flange at its frontal end to thereby restrict the outlet opening thereof and form a shoulder surrounding said opening on its interior, and wherein said nozzle head is formed with a distally extending tubular flange adapted to rest by its edge on the offset flange of said sleeve, said nozzle head flange having an inner diameter not less than the diameter of said restricted opening, and wherein said tubular stem comprises a coupling separably connected to said nozzle head, said coupling including a cylindrical end portion adapted to extend through said sleeve opening and to frictionally engage within said distally extending flange, a thickened portion distally of said frontal portion and adapted to engage against said shoulder within said sleeve said last named portion tapering distally and adapted to engage within the open end portion of a fluid conduit passed into said sleeve.
 13. The applicator of claim 6, wherein means are provided on said sleeve, intermediate its ends for engagement against the perianal surface of a body into which it is inserted to form a seal with said surface around said anal opening.
 14. The applicator of claim 11, wherein said means comprises a cylindrical thickened portion around said sleeve, said thickened portion having a concave frontal portion forming a body engaging ridge at its edge and having an outwardly extending and upwardly flared flange at its distal end forming a second body surface engaging ridge at its edge.
 15. The applicator of claim 13, wherein a frontally tapering collar surrounds said thickened portion intermediate its frontal edge and said flange, said collar having spaced circumferential serrations formed on its tapered surface. 